Improvement in cotton-presses



" UNITED STATES l PATENT OFFICE.

JOSIAS CHAMBERS, OF ALEXANDRIA, LOUISIANA.

IMPROVEM ENT IN COTTON-PRESSES.

To all whom it 11i/Ly concern:

Be it known that I, J osrns CHAMBERS, of Alexandria, in the parish of Rapides and State of Louisiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in the Cotton -Press; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is an isometrical projection of the press; Fig. 2, detached parts.

The nature of my invention consists in constructing a double screw-press with proper gearing so arranged as to move the follower up or down, the press-box and upper parts of the press being so formed as to afford the greatest facilities in packing.

The frame of the press is erected on two clamp-pieces, which support the sills a. On these are placed the four gallowsposts b. These have mortises in them at top and bottom to receive the tenons of two cross-pieces on each side. These pieces serve to sustain the head 'and foot beams l and d', and resist the thrust of the screws in pressing. The cross-pieces e, composing the frame-work of the press-box, are also let into the upright posts b. The press-box is like those now in common use, and the doors removable in the usual way. These are above the upper cross-piece, e. Between the box and the head-beam d there is a follower, f, formed of two separate pieces. On the upper side of theseare elevated pieces at each of their ends, through which a horizontal bar runs. In the center of this bar g a piece projects up through the head-beam to a lever, 7L, which has its fulcrum on said beam,

bywhich this double follower is raised and lowered. When at its highest point, the bar g is brought on a line with two other bars, g', the outer ends of which are turned up at right angles and enter the headbeam. These are for holding the follower when the two halves are slid back from over the box. Vhen they are brought to the center again, they are keyed there by a key passing through the bar,which presses against the elevated parts of the follower nearest the center. This keeps them in place. W'hen the follower is lowered down Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 3,07.`dated May 19, 1843.

just within the box, blocks f are put'between the follower and the beam d, to hold it down while pressing.

On the upper side of the lower beam, d', are two inks, which receive the lower ends ofthe screws v3. These screws extend upon each side ofthe press-box, and may have their upper ends steadied in the box-frame, if necessary. Near their lower ends they have spur-wheels on them. Between these spur-wheels z" there is a pinion, j, meshing into both. The shaft on this pinion runs down through the center of the beam d', and rests its lower end in an ink on the sills a, between the sill and the beam. There is a bevel-wheel, j', on thisshaft, into which a bevel-pinion, k, works, its axis being horizontal. On the outer end of the axis la of the pinion k there is abevel-wheel, Z. Into this two bevel-pinions, l', work-one on each side. These are on a shaft, m, andturn loosely -on it, and to this shaft the motive power is applied by aband, u. This band, which runs loose when the press is not in action, is tightened by means of a friction-pulley, n, in the I common way. Between the two pinions Z there is a clutch of the common construction,

.which can be made to connect either of the pinions with the shaft at pleasure by means of the lever'o, -which is moved from side to side. This arrangement will cause the'screws to turn either way at pleasure without reversing the are three uprights'within the box, which lsustain the lower follower, q. Diagonal braces are also added to strengthen it. The follower is made like those in common use.

When the lower follower is at the bottom of the box and the two halves of the upper one are removed to each side, the boxis filled with cotton in the usual way. The upper follower is then slid over the box and keyed to the bar g, and is then brought down alittle within the box, and the blocks f inserted. The screwsi .are then set in motion andthe followerqforced up. The other operations in packing arelike those in common practice, and do not require 3. The combination ofthe double screws withy to be described. By reversing the motion of the running-gear below the press, combined the screws the follower is again brought down. and arranged as above specified, the motion of What I claim as my invention, and desire to the screws being thereby readily changed. secure by Letters Patent, is- Y l. The construction and arrangement of the upper follower, f, in the manner and for the purpose herein described.

2. The combination of the bars g and g with the follower f, for the purpose set forth.

JOSIAS CHAMBERS.

Witnesses:

WM. H. KITCHEN, I. FENWIOK BRENT.' 

